U.S. patent number 5,806,946 [Application Number 08/836,239] was granted by the patent office on 1998-09-15 for switchgear cabinet with frame.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Rittal-Werk Rudolf Loh GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Rolf Benner, Walter Nicolai, Heinrich Strackbein.
United States Patent |
5,806,946 |
Benner , et al. |
September 15, 1998 |
Switchgear cabinet with frame
Abstract
A switchgear cabinet with a frame made up of frame members and
corner joints. The open sides of the frame are or may be closed by
side walls, a rear wall, a bottom plate, a cover plate and at least
one door. A special design of the frame members in the area of
their outer edges and of the corner joints makes it simple to
attach a door.
Inventors: |
Benner; Rolf (Herborn,
DE), Nicolai; Walter (Buseck, DE),
Strackbein; Heinrich (Biebertal, DE) |
Assignee: |
Rittal-Werk Rudolf Loh GmbH &
Co. KG (Herborn, DE)
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Family
ID: |
6532606 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/836,239 |
Filed: |
April 28, 1997 |
PCT
Filed: |
November 02, 1995 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/EP95/04287 |
371
Date: |
April 28, 1997 |
102(e)
Date: |
April 28, 1997 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO96/14729 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
May 17, 1996 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Nov 5, 1994 [DE] |
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44 39 607.4 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
312/265.3;
312/265.4; 312/265.5; 312/265.6; 49/401 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K
7/183 (20130101); H02B 1/301 (20130101); H02B
1/014 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H02B
1/00 (20060101); H02B 1/30 (20060101); H05K
7/18 (20060101); H02B 1/01 (20060101); H05K
007/18 (); H02B 001/38 () |
Field of
Search: |
;312/265.2,265.3,265.1,265.6,265.5,265.4 ;49/401,395 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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0389910 |
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Mar 1990 |
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EP |
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2697300 |
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Apr 1994 |
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FR |
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2437645 |
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Feb 1976 |
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DE |
|
8107658 |
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Jul 1981 |
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DE |
|
4036664 |
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May 1992 |
|
DE |
|
4132803 |
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Apr 1993 |
|
DE |
|
581810 |
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Sep 1958 |
|
IT |
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1336991 |
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Nov 1973 |
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GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Cuomo; Peter M.
Assistant Examiner: Allred; David E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Speckman Pauley Petersen &
Fejer
Claims
We claim:
1. In a switchgear cabinet having a rack frame with a plurality of
horizontal and vertical frame legs assembled together by a
plurality of corner connectors forming a frame with a plurality of
open sides selectively closed by lateral walls, a rear wall, and at
least one door, the improvement comprising:
vertical frame legs (11) of the frame legs having a plurality of
outer edges beveled forming a plurality of recessed receivers (70)
in said frame selectively receiving a plurality of beveled edges
(34, 41, 45) of the lateral walls (40, 44) and the door (30),
the corner connectors (20) connected to ends of the horizontal and
vertical frame legs, said corner connectors having a shoulder (24)
forming end walls of the receivers (70), said end walls having on
sides facing into the receivers (70) a plurality of plug receivers
(21) forming vertically aligned pairs at opposite ends of the
vertical frame legs,
a lock side of the door (30) having a plurality of locking bolts
(35), which are selectively inserted into the plug receivers (21)
of the corner connectors (20) by a closure device (31),
said plug receivers alternatively receiving hinge bolts of an
opposite hinge side of the door whereby the direction of swing for
the door may be selected.
2. In the switchgear cabinet in accordance with claim 1,
wherein
the frame legs (11) have two profiled sides (51, 52) placed
perpendicular with respect to each other which form exteriors of
the rack frame (10), and
the profiled sides (51, 52) connected with each other near the
outer edges by the recessed receiver (70) comprising a profiled
connecting section (53) which is placed at an angle of 135.degree.
with respect to the profiled sides (51, 52).
3. In the switchgear cabinet in accordance with claim 2,
wherein
the recessed receiver (70) comprises a connecting section (53) and
a plurality of profiled transition sections (54, 55) which are
placed perpendicular with respect to corresponding ones of the
profiled sides (51, 52).
4. In the switchgear cabinet in accordance with claim 3,
wherein
the corner connectors (20) have two surfaces (22, 23) positioned
perpendicular with respect to each other forming the outer edges of
the rack frame (10), and
the surfaces (22, 23) terminate flush with exterior surfaces of the
lateral walls (40, 44) and the closed door (30).
5. In the switchgear cabinet in accordance with claim 4,
wherein
the lateral walls (40, 44) and the rear wall (46) are screwed
together with the corner connectors (20), wherein the corner
connectors (20) have a plurality of contact surfaces (25, 26) set
back by a thickness of the lateral walls (40, 44).
6. In the switchgear cabinet in accordance with claim 5,
wherein
the hinge bolts are attached with respect to the door (30).
7. In the switchgear cabinet in accordance with claim 6,
wherein
the hinge bolts are inserted into the plug receivers (21) of the
corner connectors (20) and secured with a press fit.
8. In the switchgear cabinet in accordance with claim 7,
wherein
the lateral walls (40, 44) and the rear wall (46) are fastened on
the frame legs.
9. In a switchgear cabinet having a rack frame with a plurality of
frame legs connected together by a plurality of corner connectors,
said rack frame forming a plurality of open sides which can be
closed by lateral walls, a rear wall, and at least one door, the
improvement comprising:
at least two vertical frame legs (11) of the frame legs having a
plurality of outer edges beveled forming a plurality of recessed
receivers (70) receiving a plurality of beveled edges (34, 41, 45)
of the lateral walls (40, 44) and the door (30),
the corner connectors (20) connected to and covering ends of the
receivers (70) of the vertical frame legs (11) and having on a side
facing into the receivers (70) a plurality of plug receivers
(21),
a lock side of the door (30) having a plurality of locking bolts
(35), which are selectively inserted into the plug receivers (21)
of the corner connectors (20) by a closure device (31),
said plug receivers alternatively receiving hinge bolts of an
opposite hinge side of the door whereby the direction of swing for
the door may be selected,
the corner connectors (20) having two surfaces (22, 23) positioned
perpendicular with respect to each other forming the outer edges of
the rack (10), and
the surfaces (22, 23) terminating flush with exterior surfaces of
the lateral walls (40, 44) and the closed door (30).
10. In the switchgear cabinet in accordance with claim 1,
wherein
the lateral walls (40, 44) and the rear wall (46) are screwed
together with the corner connectors (20), wherein the corner
connectors (20) have a plurality of contact surfaces (25, 26) set
back by a thickness of the lateral walls (40, 44).
11. In the switchgear cabinet in accordance with claim 1,
wherein
the hinge bolts are attached to the door (30).
12. In a switchgear cabinet having a rack frame with a plurality of
frame legs connected together by a plurality of corner connectors,
said rack frame forming a plurality of open sides which can be
closed by lateral walls, a rear wall, and at least one door, the
improvement comprising:
at least two vertical frame legs (11) of the frame legs having a
plurality of outer edges beveled forming a plurality of recessed
receivers (70) receiving a plurality of beveled edges (34, 41, 45)
of the lateral walls (40, 44) and the door (30),
the corner connectors (20) connected to and covering ends of the
receivers (70) of the vertical frame legs (11) and having on a side
facing into the receivers (70) a plurality of plug receivers
(21),
a lock side of the door (30) having a plurality of locking bolts
(35), which are selectively inserted into the plug receivers (21)
of the corner connectors (20) by a closure device (31),
said plug receivers alternatively receiving hinge bolts of an
opposite hinge side of the door whereby the direction of swing for
the door may be selected,
the hinge bolts attached with respect to the door (30) being
inserted into the plug receivers (21) of the corner connectors (20)
and secured with a press fit.
13. In a switchgear cabinet having a rack frame with a plurality of
frame legs connected together by a plurality of corner connectors,
said rack frame forming a plurality of open sides which can be
closed by lateral walls, a rear wall, and at least one door, the
improvement comprising:
at least two vertical frame legs (11) of the frame legs having a
plurality of outer edges beveled forming a plurality of recessed
receivers (70) receiving a plurality of beveled edges (34, 41, 45)
of the lateral walls (40, 44) and the door (30),
the corner connectors (20) connected to and covering ends of the
receivers (70) of the vertical frame legs (11) and having on a side
facing into the receivers (70) a plurality of plug receivers
(21),
a lock side of the door (30) having a plurality of locking bolts
(35), which are selectively inserted into the plug receivers (21)
of the corner connectors (20) by a closure device (31),
said plug receivers alternatively receiving hinge bolts of an
opposite hinge side of the door whereby the direction of swing for
the door may be selected,
the lateral walls (40, 44) and the rear wall (46) being fastened on
the frame legs.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a switchgear cabinet with a rack
constructed of frame legs and corner connectors, with open sides
that can be closed or are closed by lateral walls, and having a
rear wall, a sheet metal bottom piece, a sheet metal cover piece
and at least one door.
2. Description of Prior Art
In conventional switchgear cabinets, two profiled sides of the
frame legs placed vertically with respect to each other normally
form exteriors of the rack and one of the exterior edges of the
rack. For hinging such door it is necessary to attach hinge
elements on the vertical frame legs. In addition, on the lock side
of the door it is necessary to attach locking elements for the
locking device attached to the door. In this case the attachment
side of the door to the rack is often fixed and cannot be changed
in a simple manner at the place where the switchgear cabinet is
used. Normally, an open side of the rack is closed by the door.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In connection with a switchgear cabinet of the type mentioned
above, it is one object of this invention to hinge a door on a rack
without special hinge and closing elements, wherein the attachment
side and the closing side can be easily interchanged and wherein
the door intended for one side of the rack can also be arbitrarily
attached to the opposite side of the rack.
This object is attained in accordance with one preferred embodiment
of this invention wherein at least the vertical frame legs are
beveled in an area of outer edges and thus constitute a receiver
for beveled edges of the lateral walls and the door. The corner
connectors cover the receivers of the frame legs and have on a side
facing the receivers plug receivers or hinge bolts. On a hinge side
the door has hinge bolts or plug receivers, which can be inserted
or are inserted into the plug receivers of the corner connectors,
or into which the hinge bolts of the door are inserted or can be
inserted. On a lock side the door has locking bolts, which can be
inserted into and removed from plug receivers of the corner
connectors by a closure device.
With this embodiment of the frame legs and corner connectors, the
corner connectors also assume functions required for hinging and
locking the door. What is needed is to provide plug receivers or
hinge bolts on the corner connectors. The frame legs do not need to
have hinge or locking elements. The receivers formed on the frame
legs in an area of the outer edges provide sufficient space for
receiving the beveled edge sections of the lateral walls and the
door.
In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, the frame legs
have two profiled sides placed vertically with respect to each
other, which form exteriors of the rack. The profiled sides are
connected with each other in an area of the outer edge by a
profiled connecting section, which is placed at an angle of
135.degree. with respect to these profiled sides. With this
embodiment the frame leg can be used as the hinge or lock side of
the door for both adjoining sides of the rack.
The receiver in the area of the outer edge of the frame legs can be
enlarged if the profiled sides make a transition into the
connecting section with profiled transition sections which are
placed vertically with respect to each other.
If the corner connectors have two surfaces located vertically with
respect to each other, which constitute portions of the outer edges
of the rack, and the surfaces terminate flush with the exteriors of
the adjoining lateral walls and the closed door, there is a flush
termination in a corner area of the switchgear cabinet.
In accordance with one embodiment, screws connect the lateral
walls, the rear wall, the sheet metal bottom piece and the sheet
metal cover piece to the corner connectors. Fastening on the frame
legs is also possible without the wall elements having fastening
bores for fastening screws.
Attachment of the door on the rack is made easier by the hinge
bolts or locking bolts being adjustably guided and/or maintained in
bearing sleeves attached to the door.
The hinging of a door can also be performed in a simple manner with
the hinge bolts, guided through bearing sleeves of the door,
inserted into plug receivers of the corner connectors and held
therein with a snug fit and/or a press fit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
This invention will be explained in detail by an exemplary
embodiment shown in the drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective partial view of a rack with a
front right frame leg, to which a lateral wall and a door is
attached, and
FIG. 2 is a perspective partial view in an area of a lower corner
connector at a front right frame leg.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Only the vertical frame legs 11 and 12 at the front right corner
and the rear left corner of a rack 10 are shown in FIG. 1. The
horizontal frame legs 13 and 14 are connected by means of a corner
connector 20 at the upper end of the vertical frame leg 11. The
horizontal frame legs 15, 16, 17 and 18 are shown in the lower
area, of which the frame legs 15 and 18 are connected by a corner
connector 20 with the lower end of the vertical frame leg 11. The
lateral walls 40 and 44 are screwed to the corner connectors 20,
wherein in these areas the corners are beveled and without edges,
as can be seen from the corner 43 of the lateral wall 40. The edge
areas 41 and 45 of the lateral walls 40 and 44 project into
receivers 70 of the frame legs. As shown in FIG. 2, the frame legs
are beveled in the area of their outer edge and form a receiver 70
together with the connecting section 53 and the transition sections
54 and 55. The corner connector 20 covers the receiver 70 with a
shoulder 24. The shoulder 24 of the corner connector 20 has a plug
receiver 21. The surfaces 22 and 23 of the corner connector 20,
which are positioned vertically with respect to each other, are
flush with the exteriors of the switchgear cabinet, such as the
exteriors of lateral walls 40 and 44, the rear wall 46 and the door
30 attached to the corner connector 20. The contact surfaces 25 and
26 for these elements are set back by the amount of their thickness
with respect to the surfaces 22 and 23 of the corner connector 20
in order to achieve a flush fit. The contact surfaces 25 and 26
have threaded receivers 27 and 28 for screwing.
The plug projections 65 of the corner connectors 20 are inserted
into receivers 62 and 63 of the frame legs and fixed therein. The
receivers 62 and 63 are delimited by multiple bent sections 56, 58,
59 or 57, 60, 61. The thrice bent sections 56 and 57 form receiving
grooves, open toward the outside, for sealing elements. The
receiving grooves 56 and 57 are located in the area of profile
sides 51 and 52, which are placed vertically with respect to each
other, and against which rest the lateral walls 40 and 44, the rear
wall 46, the door 30 and the sheet metal bottom and cover pieces,
not represented in the drawings.
Hinge bolts, which can be adjusted and fixed in place, for example,
in bearing sleeves of the door 30, are used for fastening the door
30. For fastening the door 30, the two hinge bolts on the hinge
side are inserted into the plug receivers 21 of the two associated
corner connectors 20 and fixed in place in the inserted
position.
In this case fixation in place can be in the bearing sleeve of the
door 30 or in the plug receiver 21 of the corner connectors 20.
The lateral walls 40 and 44, the rear wall 46 and the door 30 can
have beveled edge sections 41, 45, 47 or 32 and 33, that are
accommodated in the receivers 70 of the frame legs 11 to 18.
On the locking side the door 30 has a locking device 31 which can
be embodied as a push rod lock, for example. The push rods are used
as lock bolts 35 and are adjustably inserted and held in bearing
sleeves of the door 30. In the locked state of the locking device
31, the push rod ends are introduced as lock bolts 35 into the plug
receivers 21 of the adjoining corner connectors 20. When opening
the locking device 31, the push rod ends are removed from the plug
receivers 21 of the corner connectors 20, and the door 30, hinged
on the hinge side, can be opened.
The lateral walls, the rear wall, the sheet metal bottom piece and
the sheet metal cover piece can be attached by fastening means not
visible from the outside.
* * * * *